Transformational teachers

1
Transformational teachers

• The dominant fable
• Freedom Writers (2007), Stand and Deliver (1989),
  Dangerous Minds (1995)
• S D Bolivian math teacher (male), Latino
  students in East LA, AP calculus, results
  challenged, East LA math program
• DM female English teacher in academy program in
  Palo Alto, CA earns love and respect of her
  students
• Male versus female subjects?

2
How to be a transformational teacher

• In the classroom
• Be cool
• Set a (collective) stretch goal, sign contracts
• Be the coach, helping them achieve the goal
• Be patient transformation takes time
• Outside the classroom
• Sacrifice be available 24/7 outside class
• Connect with student culture, families

3
How to be a transformational teacher

• In the educational system
• Market publicize your efforts to attract
  interest, attention, resources
• Be savvy size up who are your opponents and
  supporters
• Diversify look for support at higher levels or
  outside the school system

4
Questioning the transformational teacher fable

• Required work effort and impact on personal life
• Downplaying political/organizational skill and
  overemphasizing classroom teaching
• Real story about Miep Giess visit
• Schindlers List gt newspaper article gt friend
  sees it gt Keneally gt Spielberg

5
Counter fables

• Dead Poets Society (1989) teacher inspires
  students but lacks clear goal, suppressive prep
  school fires teacher
• Half-Nelson (2007) teacher is crack cocaine
  user, student helps him score, teacher forced to
  go on leave
• Cheaters (2000) teacher coaches academic
  decathlon team from poor Chicago school, team
  cheats, wins, confesses, teacher disciplined but
  students survive (Putting the System to the Test)

6
Educational Reform Initiatives

• Lots of foundation interest (Gates Foundation)
• Charter schools (publicly-funded, open-enrollment
  outside regular system, educational philosophy,
  accountable for results)
• Coalition for Essential Schools (projects)
• Knowledge is Power (hard work, testing)
• Better teachers Teach for America
• Better principals New Leaders for New Schools

7
Sept. 29 City Hall

• The movie focuses on three competing narratives
  to investigate, explain publically, and hold
  accountable those responsible for the shootings
  with which it begins Calhouns, the Zapatti
  familys, and the union representing detective
  Santos. Outline each narrative and explain what
  the relevant party is doing to promulgate it.

8
City Hall

• 2. Discuss Mayor John Pappass strengths and
  weaknesses as a political leader. Also, evaluate
  the effectiveness of Al Pacinos portrayal of
  that role.
• 3. What does Pappas mean by menschkeit?
  Considering the nature of decisions a mayor must
  make and the groups he/she must deal with, is
  menschkeit an effective model for making public
  decisions?

9
Sept. 23 City Hall

• 4. Discuss the mentor/protégé relationship
  between Pappas and Calhoun including its complete
  evolution and the reciprocal relationship between
  the two people.
• .